You may see a repeat of 2018’s government shutdown if Congress cannot come together by October 1st.
The Democratic-led Senate and the Republican-held House are working on separate plans to address the 12 different spending bills to fund agencies across the federal government.
Once the clock strikes midnight on October 1st, it means millions of federal employees will have their paychecks delayed, federal offices and national parks will close, and other services will be halted until the problem is fixed.
During the last government shutdown, organizations like Adopt-a-Soldier Door County provided interest-free loans and other assistance to local members of the United States Coast Guard, which like many other federal employees, were furloughed during the 35-day stretch. This was because the United States Coast Guard, unlike other military branches, is under the umbrella of the Department of Homeland Security and not the Department of Defense. U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin introduced a bill on September 18th that would make sure the Coast Guard were treated like other members of the Armed Forces and get paid during a government shutdown.
I am working to prevent a needless government shutdown that will hurt our economy & our brave service members.
— Sen. Tammy Baldwin (@SenatorBaldwin) September 24, 2023
But, should political brinksmanship take us to one, my bipartisan bill will make sure our Coast Guard members are not bearing the brunt of it.https://t.co/GkjOf6gtso
To avoid future shutdowns, U.S. Senator Ron Johnson joined Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma on an amendment that would automatically provide continuing appropriations if new spending bills are not enacted by October 1st. If the amendment is included, he would vote for a stop-gap measure that bundles the 12 different funding bills into three different ones.
What could be more reasonable than passing a bill that would prevent shutdowns?
— Senator Ron Johnson (@SenRonJohnson) September 20, 2023
Prevent Government Shutdowns Act should pass 100-0, it would start us down the road to fiscal sanity and a better functioning congress. https://t.co/yVwAY4TZwb
Rep. Mike Gallagher has proposed a bill that would make sure $11 billion in previously appropriated defense funds from being canceled and go back to the U.S. Treasury instead of to the Department of Defense. He told WLUK this week that the House has to put their best foot forward when it comes to negotiating with the Senate on a new government funding bill to avert the shutdown. Gallagher admitted there might be a temporary shutdown, though there is a chance they could avoid it.
Tomorrow at midnight, billions of already appropriated defense dollars are set to cancel. To prevent this, Rep. Gallagher introduced the FIRES Act to reroute the funds to surge hard power solutions to the Indo-Pacific.
Read more here: https://t.co/WnteZipvcA pic.twitter.com/rZDosL7pad— Rep. Gallagher Press Office (@RepGallagher) September 29, 2023
